The final segment of the parade featured Cuban himself delivering the speech.
He talked about all the challenges the team had faced over the past year, and then, he concluded with the slogan:
This surprised Hansen, but it also confirmed what Grover had said earlier.
Cuban really wanted to try it again.
This made him even more excited about the upcoming season.
The existing labor agreement was set to expire on July 1.
However, before that, the first significant event of the 2011-2012 season had already arrived. Newest update provıded by 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚•𝙣𝙚𝙩
The 2011 Draft was held at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
This signaled a transition to Brooklyn, where the Brooklyn Nets’ new home court was being constructed; until then, the draft would take place at the Nets’ home court.
The Cavaliers finished last in The East and second to last in the League, securing the first pick in the Draft.
The Timberwolves, finishing last, secured the second pick, while the Jazz was lucky to draw the third pick.
As for the Grizzlies, they finished eighth in the League, acquiring the 22nd pick.
Hansen didn’t participate in the draft, but it still related to him, mainly because of the Cavaliers.
"Who will the Cavaliers choose?" was practically the least suspenseful question of this year’s draft.
The favorite for the first pick this year was Kyrie Irving.
Irving had played only 11 games in the NCAA, but he averaged 17.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, a shooting accuracy of 59%, and a three-point shooting accuracy of 45%.
With his splendid playing style, historical ball-handling skills, shooting ability, and offensive aesthetics, Irving could be said to be the perfect prototype of a modern guard and was the most commercially valuable top pick since James.
This is why, when the Cavaliers’ general manager Grant was interviewed at the draft and asked "whether he felt he missed out due to Hansen’s performance in the playoffs," he gave a very affirmative answer:
"No, because we already have a new future."
Grant believed that Irving could be a player like James, who would lead the Cavaliers to a new rise.
After training, Hansen checked the draft.
Seeing Grant’s remarks didn’t evoke any emotion in him because he knew Irving’s leadership abilities better than anyone.
He was mainly interested in the Grizzlies’ choices this year.
Aside from the 22nd pick, the Grizzlies also had the 52nd pick.
The 22nd pick wasn’t a surprise; the Grizzlies used it to select Kenneth Faried, a power forward from Mohai State University in the United States.
As for the 52nd pick, the Grizzlies did not use it themselves but made a trade instead.
They sent Sam Young and the 52nd pick to Portland in exchange for the center Joel Przybilla.
With the arrival of Battier, and his likely stay next season, Young had no position left on the Grizzlies, and a trade was anticipated.
The Grizzlies managed to strengthen their internal line-up through the draft and a trade, indicating that after reaching the Western Conference Finals last season, the management was beginning to consider a championship.
①: 2011 Labor Agreement luxury tax, up to 5 million exceeds pay 1.5 times, 500 to 1000 million exceeds pay 1.75 times, 1000 to 1500 million for 2.5 times, 1500 to 2000 million for 3.25 times, over 2000 million increase 0.5 for each 500 million, if the team exceeds the luxury tax in 4 out of 5 years, all rates increase by 1 from the original basis, taking the Lakers as an example, 19 million over the cap, previously paid 19 million, new rules changed to 44.68 million, triggering the super luxury tax would be 64.58 million.
②: James scored a total of 11 points in the final quarter of 5 NBA Finals games, Hansen scored 12 points in the G6 final quarter of the Western Conference Finals against the Mavericks.
③: Elgin Baylor and Jerry West are the players with the most runner-ups in NBA history, both having 8.